Wireless communication apparatus capable of wireless communication with public wireless network and wireless communication apparatus, and image communication apparatus capable of wireless communication with wireless communiction apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention provides an image communication apparatus in which an image input unit for entering image and a portable communication unit capable of wireless connection with a public wireless network are constructed in separate manner and are rendered capable of mutual wireless communication.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 09/945,802,filed Sep. 5, 2001, and claims benefit of that application under 35U.S.C. § 120, and benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.276928/2000, filed Sep. 12, 2000. The entire Disclosure of each of thosetwo prior applications is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatuscapable of wireless communication with a public wireless network andwireless communication with an image communication apparatus, and animage communication apparatus capable of wireless communication with awireless communication apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

Portable communication apparatus has recently become remarkably popularowing to progress in semiconductor technology, etc. Also, communicationby telephone is shifting from calling to a number, to calling to aperson.

Also, most portable wireless communication apparatus now has a charactermail function and a simplified web browsing function, in addition tovoice communication. In consideration of the further improvement in thecommunication ability of portable wireless communication apparatus ofthe next generation, it is anticipated that the image taking functionand the communication function for such image will play an importantrole.

It has already been tried to digitize and transmit an image taken with acamera, and its practical value is increasing by the improvement in thecommunication speed and by the higher image quality in the digitalcamera.

In fact the digital camera is recently showing remarkable progress inits performance and has become capable of taking an image with an imagequality close to that of a conventional camera utilizing the silverhalide-based photographic film for the printout of so-called L-size.Therefore, in comparison with the time and work required for taking animage with the conventional camera, developing the film and printing theimage with a minilab or the like and digitizing and transmitting thusobtained image, it will be far more efficient to transmit the image witha digital camera and a portable wireless communication apparatus.

Also, such image communication with the digital camera and the portablewireless communication apparatus matches the recent trend of the modernsociety toward diversification of the communication needs and towardmultimedia.

However, in order to replace the conventional image communicationutilizing digitization of an image obtained with a conventional cameraby the digital camera and the electronic mail function, it is necessaryto be able to transfer the image data to be transmitted from the digitalcamera to the personal computer and to transmit thus transferred imagedata to a desired address by means of the image transmitting function ofthe personal computer.

In the communication in such form, however, it is necessary to connectthe digital camera and the personal computer with a cable and to operatethe personal computer, which not only interferes with the convenience ofthe user but also makes it difficult promptly to transmit the imagetaken with the digital camera. It has therefore been difficult toexecute communication exploiting the prompt operability of the digitalcamera.

It has also been proposed to incorporate the digital camera function inthe portable wireless communication apparatus for achieving the imagecommunication without the mentioned cabling, but such configurationlimits the development in the performance of the digital camera despitethe rapid progress in the function of the digital camera itself, and, insuch integrated configuration, the digital camera has to be carried evenin a case where portable wireless communication apparatus alone isutilized without the digital camera function, leading to a limitation onthe dimension, weight or usable time of the equipment.

In short, the conventional configuration of utilizing the digital cameraand the personal computer for image communication is associated with adrawback that the taken image cannot be immediately transmitted, whereasthe conventional integrated configuration consisting of the digitalcamera and the portable wireless communication apparatus is associatedwith a drawback of poor portability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an image communicationapparatus capable of immediately transmitting the taken image andexcellent in portability.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the operability ofan image input device for immediately transmitting the taken image.

Still another object of the present invention is, in enabling immediatetransmission of the taken image, to enable transmission of an imagematching the recipient and to enable transmission of a suitable image tothe recipient.

Still another object of the present invention is to enable immediatetransmission of the taken image and to enable transmission with aspecified addressee only.

According to one aspect of the present invention is provided a printerapparatus including a reception device adapted to wirelessly receive aninquiry signal which is transmitted by a wireless communicationapparatus in order to search surrounding devices, and a transmissiondevice adapted to transmit a response signal to the inquiry signalreceived by the reception device. The response signal includesinformation indicating that the printer is a specified printer which ispre-registered in the wireless communication apparatus and informationindicating that the printer is operating in a printing process.Moreover, the transmission device does not transmit the response signalin a case where the printer apparatus in operating in a printingprocess.

Still other objects and features of the present invention will becomefully apparent from the following detailed description which is to betaken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of an image communicationsystem 1000 constituting a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image inputunit 100 in the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a camera unit 150provided in the image input unit 100 of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of portablecommunication unit 300 in the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the data flow in the image input unit 100 ofthe first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view showing the data flow in the portable communicationunit 300 of the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the data flow sequence in case of imagetransmission in the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an image transmitting operation of theimage input unit 100 in the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an image transmitting operation of theportable communication unit 300 in the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a view showing the data flow sequence in case of imagereception in the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an image receiving operation of theportable communication unit 300 in the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an image receiving operation of theimage input unit 100 in the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a view showing the data flow sequence in case of imagetransmission in a second embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a view showing the data flow in case of image transmission inthe second embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing an image transmission control operationof the portable communication unit 300 in the second embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a view showing the configuration of an image communicationsystem 2000 in a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing the process of an image input unit inthe image communication system 2000.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of the configuration of an imagecommunication system 1000 constituting a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

The image communication system 1000 is composed of an imagecommunication apparatus IC1, a base station 500, an ISDN (integratedservice digital network) 600, an access point 700, an internet network800, and a receiving terminal 900.

The image communication apparatus ICI is provided with an image inputunit 100 and a portable communication unit 300.

The image input unit 100 is provided with a digital camera function anda wireless image communicating function. Also, the image input unit 100may be used singly, namely detached from the portable communication unit300.

The image input unit 100 and the portable communication unit 300 areboth provided with wireless communication means and are capable ofmutual communication. In the present embodiment, as such wirelesscommunication means, there is employed the Bluetooth standard forexecuting transmission in the 2.4 GHz band by the frequency diffusionmethod.

The portable communication unit 300 is usable also as an ordinarywireless telephone (for example for conversational communication only)and is also capable of image communication with the image input unit 100in a distant location. Thus the portable communication unit 300 isprovided with wireless communication means different from that usedbetween the image input unit 100 and the portable communication unit 300and capable of accessing a public network. In the present embodiment,the above-mentioned wireless communication means for access to thepublic network employs a wireless communication method utilizing the PHS(personal handyphone system), but the wireless communication method inthe present invention is not limited thereto.

Also, the image input unit 100 constitutes an example of the image inputmeans for image input, provided with the wireless communicationfunction. Moreover, the portable communication unit 300 constitutes anexample of the portable communication means capable of wirelessconnection with the public wireless network. Furthermore, the imageinput means and the portable communication means are mutually separable.

The base station 500 communicates with the portable communication unit300 by the PHS method and also converts the data, received from theimage communication apparatus IC1 by the PHS method, into data for theISDN (wired network) 600.

The access point 700 is an access point for the internet provider, andthe internet communication can be achieved through the access point 700.Also, the access point 700 communicates with the receiving terminal 900through the internet network 800.

In the image communication system 1000 of the above-describedconfiguration, information can be transmitted to all the terminalsconnected to the internet in the world, by an internet protocol such asPOP3/SMTP (post office protocol version 3/simple mail transferprotocol).

(Image Input Unit 100)

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of theimage input unit 100 in the above-explained embodiment.

The image input unit 100 is provided with a camera unit 150, a main CPUunit MC1, a sub CPU unit SC1, and a Bluetooth module 148.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of thecamera unit 150 provided in the image input unit 100.

In the camera unit 150, a CPU 151 controls the camera unit 150 accordingto a program stored in a memory (not shown), and a CPU 152 controls theentire camera unit 150 according to a program stored in a memory (notshown) and is composed of a composite IC having a memory controller anda serial interface.

A CCD 153 converts optical (image) information into a charge and outputsthus converted charge as an electrical signal. In the presentembodiment, the size of the image formed by the CCD 153 is assumed to be1280 pixels in the horizontal direction by 960 pixels in the verticaldirection.

A CDS/AGC (correlated double sampling/auto gain control) circuit 154executes sampling on the electrical signal transmitted from the CCD 153,thereby controlling the amplitude of the signal.

An A/D converter converts an analog image signal into a digital signal.A signal processing circuit 156 applies correction for example for whitebalance on the converted digital data, then executes color spaceconversion from the color space of the CCD into RGB data, and outputsthe image data thus subjected to the color space conversion.

A vertical driver 157 converts the voltage amplitude thereby generatinga signal for driving the CCD 153, and a timing generator 158 generates atiming signal necessary for the CCD 153 for image formation. A lens 159transmits and refracts light thereby concentrating the light onto thecharge-accumulating surface of the CCD 153.

A control line 160 is used for communication between the CPU 152 and theCPU 151 controlling the entire camera unit 150. A control line 161 isused by the CPU 151, controlling the camera unit 150, for controllingthe image processing IC (signal processing circuit) 156, in which aninternal register executes reading and writing operations through thecontrol line 161.

A pixel signal line 162 is used for transmitting the image signal, inanalog value, from the CCD 153 to the CDS/AGC circuit 154.

A pixel signal line 163 is used for transmitting the image signal,subjected to amplitude control by the CDS/AGC circuit 154, to the ADconverter 155. A signal line 164 is used for transmitting the signal,digitized by the AD converter 155, to the signal processing circuit 156.The signal line 164 is composed of 10 data buses.

An image bus 165 is used for transmitting the image signal, convertedinto YUV format by image processing in the image processing circuit 156,to the CPU 152. The image bus 165 is composed of 8 data buses.

A signal line 166 is used for transmitting the timing signal, used bythe CCD 153 as the basis for image formation, from the timing generator158 to the CCD 153. A signal line 167 is used for transmitting thetiming signal (requiring voltage conversion), to the CCD 153 through thevertical driver 157.

A signal line 168 is used for transmitting the clock signal used as thebasis of sampling of the pixel signal, and a signal line 169 is used fortransmitting horizontal and vertical synchronization signals, generatedby the CPU 152, to the timing generator 158. A signal line 170 is usedfor transmitting a clock signal, generated by the CPU 152 and used asthe basis of timing in controlling the entire camera unit 150, to thetiming generator 158, and a signal line 171 is used for transmitting asample-hold timing signal to be given to the CDS/AGC circuit 154.

In the following there will be explained the signal flow among theblocks constituting the camera unit 150.

The IC (CPU) 152 controlling the entire camera unit 150 enters the clocksignal into the timing generator 158 through the signal line 170, andthe CPU 152 enters the horizontal and vertical synchronization signalsinto the timing generator 158 through the signal line 169.

In synchronization with thus-entered signals, the timing generator 158supplies the CCD 153 with the timing signal through the signal line 166,also the vertical driver 157 with the timing signal through the signalline 167, the CDS/AGC circuit 154 with the timing signal through thesignal line 171 and the AD converter with the timing signal through thesignal line 168.

In synchronization with these timing signals, the CCD 153 outputs thetaken image signal as an analog signal composed of 1280 dots in thehorizontal direction by 960 dots in the vertical direction. Theoutputted image signal is sent through the signal line 162 to theCDS/AGC circuit 154 which executes sampling, noise elimination and gaincontrol. The AD converter 155 converts thus processed signal into a10-bit digital signal and outputs such digital signal to the imageprocessing IC 156 through the signal line 164.

Receiving the digitally converted signal, the image processing IC 156executes image processing such as white balancing and AE (auto exposurecontrol) on the received signal under the control of the cameramicrocomputer (CPU) 151, and outputs the thus-processed signal in the8-bit YUV format to the CPU 152.

The lens 159 is a 3× zoom lens of which the zoom position can bemanually moved. When converted into a lens for a camera for a 35 mmfilm, the lens 159 has a focal length within a range of 34˜103 mm. Witha Hall element, the lens 159 transmits the lens position to the CPU 151for various types of image processing.

Again referring to FIG. 2, the sub-CPU unit SC1 communicates with themain CPU 129 of the main CPU unit MC1, thereby exchanging commands anddata.

The communication is executed by parallel signal transfer through asignal line 119 which is composed of 13 signal lines (8 data buses, anaddress signal line, an I/O READ signal line, an I/O WRITE signal line,a chip select signal line, and an interrupt signal line).

The sub-CPU unit SC1 is further provided with a reset request signalline 120 for outputting a signal for resetting the main CPU 129, and areset request signal line 121 for outputting a signal for resetting thecamera microcomputer (CPU 151) for controlling the camera unit 150.

Also, the sub-CPU SC1 executes serial transfer of commands and displaydata through signal lines 103 (SC signal line, RD signal line, SDAsignal line and SCL signal line) for displaying various information onan LCD display 102, thereby controlling the display thereon. It alsoexecutes on/off control of a back light, provided in the LCD display102, by a back light ON signal.

The sub-CPU SC1 is also connected with a RTC 104, for generatinginformation on date and time, through an I2C-bus 105 thereby obtainingdate and time information.

Furthermore, the sub-CPU SC1 can receive information from a key unit113, having various switches and a keyboard (key matrix switches).

A mode switch 107 is used by the user for selecting the state of theimage input unit 100. More specifically, the image input unit 100 canidentify one of three modes, namely a power off state, an imageproducing state and an image input state (camera in use). Consequently asignal line 108 has three switch input terminals.

A shutter switch 109 is a two-step switch capable of identifying ahalf-depressed state and a fully-depressed state. Consequently a signalline 110 has two switch input terminals.

A jog dial 111 is used by the user for selecting one of the itemsdisplayed on the image of the LCD display 102. The user rotates the dialto shift a cursor on a desired item and pushes in the dial to determinethe selected item.

The jog dial 111 can also be inclined to the left and to the right, forexample respectively to proceed to a next image and to return to apreceding image. Therefore, a signal line 112 has five switch inputterminals in total, including two terminals for identifying the rotatingdirection of the dial, one terminal for identifying the push-inoperation of the dial and two terminals for identifying the inclinationto the left or to the right.

The sub-CPU SC1 is further connected with a battery 122 through a RxDserial communication line 126 for receiving information on the remainingbattery energy and on the battery (voltage, temperature, etc.) atcharging and executes processing according to thus received information.The battery 122 supplies various units with electric power through aDC-DC converter 124.

The sub-CPU SC1 further executes power management by controlling theoutput (on/off state) of the DC-DC converter 124 through an outputterminal 125. It also receives a signal from an attachment/detachmentdetection switch 123 cooperating with a knob provided on a cover for thebattery 122, and executes a power-off process in case the battery 122 isabout to be extracted, thereby preventing loss of the data stored in thememory.

The sub-CPU SC1 monitors the battery voltage by receiving the outputvoltage of the battery 122 through a signal line 128 at an A/D converterinput terminal, and executes a protective process in case of detectingan abnormality such as an excessive charging or an excessive discharge.

A main CPU MC1 has two serial ports. A signal line 138 connected to aserial port 0 is used in case of communicating with the camera unit 150.The serial port 0 is also used by a CPU chip 129 for sendinginstructions such as exposure conditions, use of flash light,photographing mode, timing of photographing, etc., to the camera unit150.

A signal line 134 connected to a serial port 2 is used in datacommunication with the Bluetooth module 148.

A parallel interface 119 is used for connecting the sub-CPU 101 and themain CPU 129.

The main CPU 129 is a CPU chip used for executing the protocolsordinarily used in the image capturing, adjustment of image data amount,output to display, communication with the camera microcomputer,communication with the sub CPU 101, communication with the Bluetoothmodule 148, communication with the external host computer and in theBluetooth module 148.

For executing these processes, the CPU chip 129 is provided with aserial port, a camera unit interface, a display interface, a memoryinterface, a parallel interface, a general purpose I/O (GPIO), anoperation unit, a cache memory, a DMA controller, an interruptcontroller, a timer and a compression/decompression engine.

An EDO DRAM 130 is a memory used as the work area for the operatingsystem and the application software.

The present embodiment employs two units of EDO DRAM 130. The EDO DRAM130 also supports a self-refreshing mode and shifts to a low powerconsumption state under the control by the memory controller of the CPU129.

A flash ROM 131 is provided with a NOR type memory and is connected as ahardware interface in a similar manner as in the ordinary SRAM.

The flash ROM 131 is used for storing the image taken by the cameraunit, recording the data obtained from the received mails and by the FTPcommunication and also recording various parameters.

A mask ROM 132 is a memory used for storing the operating system and theprograms of the application software. When the power supply to the CPU129 is turned on or when the resetting is executed, the ROM 132 isselected and the boot strap codes are executed.

Crystal oscillators 146, 147 are used for generating frequencies to beused in the CPU 129. The crystal oscillator 146 is used for the entiresystem control and the NTSC encoding, and the crystal oscillator 147 isused for signal input from the camera unit 150.

A camera unit interface 139 is used for storing the image signal,transmitted from the camera unit 150, in the CPU 129. The image signalis transmitted after the image processing such as the color spaceconversion, image interpolation, auto exposure control, auto whitebalancing, auto focusing control, etc., by the image processor on theraw data of the CCD and is subjected to 4:2:2 formatting. Therefore,there is required a sampling frequency equal to twice of the frequencyof the raw CCD data.

A signal line 140 is used for transmitting a horizontal synchronizationsignal HD and a vertical synchronization signal VD. These signals aretransmitted from the main CPU 129 to the image processing TG provided inthe camera unit 150 for achieving synchronized storage of the imagedata.

A display interface 141 is used for transmitting an NTSC signal,outputted from the CPU 129, to an external connector 142 and an LCDcontroller 145. The LCD controller 145 executes, in cooperation with avoltage-converting device 144, conversion of the NTSC signal into asignal for display on a color LCD 143.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of theportable communication unit 300 in the present embodiment.

A sub-CPU SC3 executes communication with a main CPU 329 of a main CPUMC3, thereby exchanging commands and data. The communication is executedby parallel transfer through a signal line 319, composed of 13 signallines (8 data BSU lines, an address signal line, an I/O READ signalline, an I/O WRITE signal line, a chip select signal line, and anINTERRUPT signal line).

The sub-CPU SC3 is provided with a reset request signal line 320 foroutputting a signal for resetting the main CPU 329, and is alsoconnected with an RTC 304, for generating date and time information,through an I2C-bus 305 thereby obtaining date and time information.Furthermore, the sub-CPU SC1 can receive information from a key unit313, having various switches and a keyboard.

A mode switch 307 is used by the user for selecting the state of theportable communication unit 300. More specifically, the portablecommunication unit 300 can identify either a power off state or acommunication state.

A jog dial 311 is used by the user for selecting one of the itemsdisplayed on the image. The user rotates the dial to shift a cursor on adesired item and pushes in the dial to determine the selected item. Thisinput device (jog dial 311) is used, for example, in selecting a desiredaddress from a telephone book.

A key unit 313 of key matrix type is used for entering telephone numbersand various characters.

The key matrix switch 313 is composed of 8×2 keys, which are scanned by8 output terminals 314 and two input terminals 315.

The sub-CPU SC3 is further connected with a battery 322 through a RxDserial communication line 326 for receiving information on the remainingbattery energy and on the battery (voltage, temperature etc.) at thecharging and executes processing according to thus received information.The battery 322 supplies various units with electric power through aDC-DC converter 324.

The sub-CPU SC3 further executes power management by controlling theoutput (on/off state) of the DC-DC converter 324 through an outputterminal 325. It also receives a signal from an attachment/detachmentdetection switch 323 cooperating with a knob provided on a cover for thebattery 322, and executes a power-off process in case the battery 322 isabout to be extracted, thereby preventing loss of the data stored in thememory.

The sub-CPU SC3 monitors the battery voltage by receiving the outputvoltage of the battery 322 through a signal line 328 at an A/D converterinput terminal, and executes a protective process in case of detectingan abnormality such as an excessive charging or an excessive discharge.

A main CPU MC3 has two serial ports. A signal line 337 connected to aserial port 1 is used for communication with a Bluetooth module 350.

A signal line 334 connected to a serial port 2 is used in datacommunication with a PHS module 348.

A parallel interface 319 is used for connecting the sub-CPU 301 and themain CPU 329.

The main CPU 329 is a CPU chip used for executing the protocolsordinarily used in the output to the display, communication with thesub-CPU 301, communication with the Bluetooth module 350 and in theBluetooth module 148. For executing these processes, the CPU chip 329 isprovided with a serial port, a camera unit interface, a displayinterface, a memory interface, a parallel interface, a general purposeI/O (GPIO), an operation unit, a DMA controller, an interrupt controllerand a timer.

An EDO DRAM 330 is a memory used as the work area for the operatingsystem and the application software. For the sake of making the portablecommunication unit 300 compact, the EDO DRAM 330 does not have a memorycapacity matching the display of a large-scale image.

A flash ROM 331 is provided with a NOR type memory and is connected as ahardware interface in a similar manner as in the ordinary SRAM.

The flash ROM 331 is used for storing the image transferred from theimage input unit 100 and the data obtained from the received mails andalso recording various parameters.

A mask ROM 332 is a memory used for storing the operating system and theprograms of the application software. When the power supply to the CPU129 is turned on or when the resetting is executed, the ROM 332 isselected and the boot strap codes are executed.

A crystal oscillator 347 is used for generating frequencies to be usedin the CPU 329. The crystal oscillator 347 is used for the entire systemcontrol.

A display interface 341 transmits the signal from the CPU 329 to an LCDcontroller 345.

The LCD controller 345 executes, in cooperation with a voltageconversion device 344, conversion of the NTSC signal into a signal fordisplay by a color LCD 343.

In the following there will be explained the data flow in the imageinput unit 100 of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows the data flow in the image input unit 100, wherein imageinput device 101B corresponds to the camera unit 150 in FIG. 2.

Memory device 102B corresponds to the EDO DRAM 130 and the flash ROM 131in FIG. 2, and stores the image taken by the camera unit 150.

Image conversion device 105B executes conversion to be executed by theCPU 129 shown in FIG. 2, and converts the input image size (for example1280×960 dots) into an arbitrary size (for example 320×24 dots). Suchconversion can be achieved by a known method, such as simple skipping,interpolation by averaging or image encoding.

First wireless communication device 106B corresponds to the Bluetoothunit 148 shown in FIG. 2. Control device 107B corresponds to the CPU 129shown in FIG. 2 and controls the above-mentioned devices 101B, 102B,105B and 106B.

Display device 103B is used for displaying the taken image and forselecting the image to be transmitted.

Selection device 104B is used for selecting the image of which the imagesize is to be changed.

In the following there will be explained the data flow in the portablecommunication unit 300 in the present embodiment.

First, wireless communication unit 301B is used for wirelesscommunication between the image input unit 100 and the portablecommunication unit 300 and corresponds to the Bluetooth unit 350 in FIG.4.

Memory device 302B corresponds to the EDO DRAM 330 and the flash ROM 331shown in FIG. 2, and is used for storing the image transferred from theimage input unit 100 and the data transferred from other terminals.Display device 303B is used for displaying the image obtained bycommunication and displaying e-mails. Second wireless communication unit304B is used for wireless communication between the portablecommunication unit 300 and a base station 500 and corresponds to the PHSmodule 348 in FIG. 4.

Control device 305B corresponds to the CPU 329 shown in FIG. 4 andcontrols the above-mentioned devices (301B to 304B) and input device306B.

The input device 306B is used for entering the address of designationand for making various selections.

In the following there will be explained the sequence of data flow incase of image transmission in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the sequence of data flow in case of imagetransmission in the above-described embodiment.

From the image input unit 100 to the portable communication unit 300,there is transferred a copy (selecting image) of a reduction image (witha reduced number of pixels) prepared in advance so as to reduce theimage size (t11).

Then the portable communication unit 300 selects an image to betransmitted, in case there are plural transferred reduction images,utilizing such reduction images, also confirms the images to betransmitted and the layout thereof utilizing such transferred reductionimages, further enters the main text of e-mail, selects and enters theaddress. Then connection is made to a mail server through the basestation 500 (t12).

Then the mail server informs the portable communication unit 300 of thecompletion of preparation for the transmission of the mail text of themail (t13), and the portable communication unit 300 informs the imageinput unit 100 of the information on the destination of transmission andthe completion of preparation for the transmission (t14).

Based on the information on the destination provided by the portablecommunication unit 300, the image input unit 100 judges the kind of thetransmitter (for example judging a printer or a computer)), and an imagematching the information on the destination is transferred to theportable communication unit 300 by Bluetooth communication utilizing theBluetooth module 350. In this manner the image input unit 100 executestransmission to the base station 500 through the portable communicationunit 300. The transfer of the image matching the kind of the destinationmeans, for example, the transfer of a high definition image (image of ahigh resolution) in a case where the destination is a printer, or thetransfer of an image of medium resolution in case the destination is anordinary computer (t15). In either case, the portable communication unit300 can at first execute a process of storing the reduction imagetransferred in the step t11, and can execute image communication withoutstoring a larger image (image of a higher resolution). Then, uponcompletion of the image communication, an end command reaches from themail server to the portable communication unit 300 (t16), whereupon theimage communication in the image input unit 100 is terminated (t17).

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of image transmission bythe image input unit 100 in the above-described embodiment.

At first the image input unit 100 displays, on the LCD 143, a reductionimage of the taken and stored image. The user selects the image to betransmitted utilizing the jog dial 111 and the key unit 113 (S2), andthus selected image is subjected to a change in the number of pixels anda change in the encoding method to produce a copy of the aforementionedimage, reduced in data amount for transfer to the portable communicationunit 300 (S3).

Then there is monitored whether a command for transmission is given fromthe user (S4), and, in response to such command, the aforementioned copyimage of reduced data amount is transferred to the portablecommunication unit 300 (S5). In case of transmitting plural images, thesequence returns from step S4 to S2 for selecting another image to betransmitted.

Then there is monitored whether the destination information istransferred from the portable communication unit 300 (S6). Suchinformation means that the portable communication unit 300 has executedthe preparation of the e-mail utilizing the image to be transmitted andthe selection of the destination and has completed the connection withthe communication server.

Then the data amount of the image to be transferred is changed accordingto the destination information obtained in step S6, and the image istransmitted through the portable communication unit 300 to the basestation 500 (S7). For example, in case the original image has a size of1280×960 dots, such image is directly transmitted if the destination isa printer but the image is transmitted after a change of the image sizeto 640×480 dots if the destination is a computer. Also, the transmissionis made after a change of the image size to 320×240 dots if thedestination is a portable communication device.

The aforementioned change of the image size is executed by the imagesize conversion means 105B on the image stored in the memory means 102B.Such conversion enables efficient communication matching the destinationof transmission.

Then there is monitored whether a communication end command has arrivedfrom the portable communication unit 300 (S8), and the sequence isterminated when the communication end command arrives (S9).

In the above-described sequence, the communication from the image inputunit 100 to the portable communication unit 300 is executed by theBluetooth communication utilizing the Bluetooth modules 148 and 350, andthe communication from the portable communication unit 300 to the basestation 500 is executed by the PHS communication by the PHS module.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an image transmitting operation of theportable communication unit 300 in the above-described embodiment.

The portable communication unit 300 monitors whether a reduction imagehas been transferred from the image input unit 100 (S22), and, iftransferred, it prepares an e-mail or a web page utilizing thethus-transferred image (S23).

Then there is selected the destination of transmission (S24), utilizingthe telephone list or the past communication record provided in theportable communication unit 300.

Then connection is made with a server such as the mail server fortransmission (S25), and there is monitored whether the transmission ispossible (S26). If the transmission is possible, the reduction image iserased (S26 a) and the destination information and the instruction forimage transmission are transferred to the image input unit 100 (S27). Inthe image transmitting operation, the image data of a large amount aretransmitted from the image input unit 100, but the portablecommunication unit 300 does not store the image data but merely executesa relaying operation in such transmitting operation (S28), whereby thecapacity of the memory provided therein can be reduced. Then there ismonitored whether the communication with the server has been completed(S29), and, if completed, there is transferred a command for terminatingthe communication to the image input unit 100 (S30), whereupon thesequence is terminated (S31).

In the following there will be explained the data flow at the imagereception in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows the data flow at the image reception in theabove-described embodiment.

At first the portable communication unit 300 receives a request forreception from the base station 500 including the mail server 500 (t21),and refuses the mail reception itself in a case where the reception isnot possible because of an empty memory capacity in the portablecommunication unit 300 (t22). If the empty memory capacity of theportable communication unit 300 is not limited but the communicationstate with the image input unit 100 is not satisfactory, the e-mail isreceived in the portions other than the image and the sequence isterminated, and, if the empty memory capacity and the communicationstate with the image input state 100 are satisfactory, all the data arereceived (t22).

Then there is given an instruction for starting the reception from themail server to the image input unit 100 (t23), and, in the case of anerror or termination of the communication, an instruction for ending thecommunication from the image input unit 100 to the portablecommunication unit 300 (t24). Then the end of communication isinstructed from the portable communication unit to the mail server(t25).

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an image receiving operation in theportable communication unit 300 in the above-described embodiment.

Upon receiving a request for reception from the base station 500, theportable communication unit 300 discriminates whether there is a memorycapable of storing the reception data (S42), and, if even the characterdata cannot be stored because of the deficient empty memory capacity,there is informed a rejection for the reception request and thereceiving operation is terminated (S48). On the other hand, if there isa memory capable of storing the reception data (S42), there is checkedthe state of the Bluetooth communication with the image input unit 100(S43), and, if the communication state is unsatisfactory, an instructionto start the reception only on the character portion is given to theserver (S50) and the received data are stored (S51). The receivingoperation from the server is executed solely by the portablecommunication unit 300 in the steps S50 and S51 and the image input unit100 does not execute the reception.

On the other hand, if the communication state with the image input unit100 is satisfactory (S43), an instruction to start the reception isgiven to the server (S44), and the image data received from the serverare relayed and transferred to the image input unit (S45).

Then the completion of the communication with the server (S46) isawaited, and, upon completion of the communication, an instruction forterminating the communication is sent to the image input unit 100 and tothe server (S47).

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the image receiving operation of theimage input unit 100 in the above-described embodiment.

Upon receiving a request for reception through the portablecommunication unit 300, the image input unit 100 discriminates whetherthere is a memory capable of storing the reception data (S62), and, ifeven the character data cannot be stored because of the deficient emptymemory capacity, there is informed a rejection for the reception requestto the portable communication unit 300 and the receiving operation isterminated (S65).

On the other hand, if there is a memory capable of storing the receptiondata (S62), the image data are received from the server through theportable communication unit 300 (S63). Then the completion of thecommunication with the server (S64) is awaited, and, upon completion ofthe communication, the sequence is terminated (S65).

The portable communication unit 300 only receives the character data ina case where the communication state between the portable communicationunit 300 and the image input unit 100 is not satisfactory, but it isalso possible to receive also the image data of a limited data amountfrom the server in addition to the character data.

In the image communication apparatus IC1, the image input unit 100 suchas a digital camera and the portable communication unit 300 are formedas separate casings, and are mutually connected by wirelesscommunication means which is different from the wireless communicationmeans to be used in the communication of the portable communication unit300 with the public communication network. Consequently the image inputunit 100 need not be carried in a case where the image taking functionis not required, whereby excellent portability can be ensured, and theconfiguration of the image input unit 100 can be modified according tothe technological progress of the image input unit 100 and that of thewireless communication means connecting the portable communication unit300 and the base station 500, whereby the system can flexibly adapt tovarious application software.

Furthermore, since the image input unit 100 such as a digital camera andthe portable communication unit 300 are connectable by the wirelesscommunication means, there can be achieved transmission and reception inabrupt (and prompt) manner even in the course of an image takingoperation. The use of two wireless communication means isdisadvantageous in consideration of the cost of the apparatus, but suchdrawback in cost can be reduced by employing, as the wirelesscommunication means for connecting the image input unit 100 and theportable communication unit 300, a short-distance communication systembased on the frequency diffusion method that can be constructedinexpensively such as Bluetooth.

Moreover, the image communication apparatus IC1 can be constructedinexpensively since the aforementioned controls are realized by the CPU,memory, display means, selection means etc. ordinarily provided in theimage input unit 100 and the portable communication unit 300.

Furthermore, in the foregoing embodiment, it is difficult to store theimage taken with the image input element of several million pixels inthe portable communication unit 300 since the capacity of the imagememory mounted therein is limited in order to reduce the dimension andweight the equipment. It is therefore rendered possible to transmit, atfirst, plural reduction images (thumbnail images) of limited data amountfrom the image input unit 100 to the portable communication unit 300,then to select the image to be transmitted in the portable communicationunit and to instruct the start of transmission of such image from theportable communication unit to the image input unit, thereby achievingcommunication from the image input unit 100 to the base station 500through the portable communication unit 300.

The plural reduction images (thumbnail images) of limited data amountfrom the image input unit 100 to the portable communication unit 300 aretransmitted merely for selecting the image to be transmitted, so thatsuch thumbnail images may have a low resolution. After the image to betransmitted is once selected, the portable communication unit 300 merelyrelays such transmitted image and is not required to store all the imageat a time. Also the selection of the image to be transmitted is to bemade in the portable communication unit 300.

Also in the image communication apparatus IC1, in the case of executingthe image receiving operation, the mode of reception is varied accordingto the state of the wireless communication means (first wirelesscommunication means) between the image input unit 100 and the portablecommunication unit 300, whereby there can be achieved such control as toreduce the data amount of the received image or to suspend the receptionif the wireless communication between the image input unit 100 and theportable communication unit 300 is difficult owing for example to a longdistance or noises.

Also, in the image communication apparatus IC1, the image input unit 100executes transmission with the data amount of the transmitted imagevaried according to the type of the destination. For example the dataamount of the image is reduced in case the destination of web server ore-mail because the image only needs to be viewed on a display, but theimage is transmitted with a larger number of pixels in case transmissionto an internet printer in order to enable clearer image output. The dataamount of the image can be varied for example by a reduction in thenumber of pixels or by a change in the image encoding method. Thewireless communication means (second wireless communication means)between the portable communication unit 300 connectable to the publicnetwork and the base station 500 is expected to become faster in thefuture but is still often slower than the first wireless communicationmeans between the image input unit 100 and the portable communicationunit 300. Also, the communication with an unnecessary number of pixelsis undesirable in consideration of the communication cost. Thus therecan be obtained an advantage of achieving communication with anappropriate number of pixels to the appropriate destination.

Furthermore, there can be improved the operability in the imagecommunication by the image input unit and the portable communicationunit because the reduction image is transmitted from the image inputunit to the portable communication unit and is utilized for confirmingor selecting the image.

Second Embodiment

The second embodiment is similar in the hardware configuration to theforegoing first embodiment, but is different in the entire controlmethod.

In the second embodiment, the image input unit 100 executes selection ofthe destination of transmission. Therefore, prior to the transmission,the portable communication unit 300 sends plural destination addressesto the image input unit 100. Then the image input unit 100 selects oneof thus sent plural destination addresses, and, as soon as the mailserver of the destination becomes ready, transmits the image to the mailserver through the portable communication unit 300.

In the first embodiment, after the image to be transmitted is selectedby the image input unit 100, the destination is selected by the portablecommunication unit 300, so that the user has to operate both the imageinput unit 100 and the portable communication unit 300. On the otherhand, the second embodiment provides an advantage of completing thetransmitting operation solely by the image input unit 100 since theselection of the destination is also executed in the image input unit100.

In sending the address information to the image input unit 100, it isnot necessary to send all the address information included in thetelephone list. It is more efficient to send only the necessaryaddresses such as those associated with the e-mail addresses.

FIG. 13 shows the data flow in the image transmitting operation in thesecond embodiment.

At first the image input unit 100 sends an acquisition request for thedestination address information to the portable communication unit 300(t31). Then the portable communication unit 300 transfers the necessaryaddress information to the image input unit 100 (t32). Then the imageinput unit 100 prepares an e-mail of an image size matching thedestination and sends a relaying request to the portable communicationunit 300 (t33).

The portable communication unit 300 sends a request for transmitting theimage data to the server (t34), and, when a permission for transmissionis given from the server to the portable communication unit 300 (t35),it sends an instruction to start the transmission of the image data tothe image input unit 100 (t36). Thus the image input unit 100 transmitsthe image data to the server through the portable communication unit 300(t37).

Such control (including relaying) allows the image data to betransmitted without increasing the memory capacity of the portablecommunication unit 300.

After the completion of transmission, the portable communication unit300 acquires status information from the server (t38), and the portablecommunication unit 300 transfers the status to the image input unit 100,whereupon the sequence is terminated.

FIG. 14 shows an image transmitting operation in the image input unit100 of the second embodiment.

The image input unit 100 sends a request for acquiring addressinformation group, for obtaining the address information for selectingthe destination, to the portable communication unit 300 (S82), andacquires the address information therefrom (S83). Then the destinationis selected by the user (S84), and an e-mail is prepared with avariation of the type (resolution) of the attached image according tothus selected destination (S85).

Then the prepared image mail is transferred to the server through theportable communication unit 300 (with relaying by the portablecommunication unit 300) (S86) and the sequence waits until an endinstruction arrives (S87), and the sequence is terminated when the endinstruction arrives (S88).

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing an image transmission control operationin the portable communication unit 300 of the second embodiment.

When the portable communication unit 300 receives the request foracquiring the address information from the image input unit 100 (S102),it transfers the address information to the image input unit 100(S1103). Then, after the preparation of the e-mail in the image inputunit 100, the portable communication unit executes connection to theserver in response to an instruction for connection from the image inputunit 100 thereby preparing for the e-mail transmission (S104).

Then the portable communication unit 300 transfers the image transmittedfrom the image input unit 100 and matching the destination in the imagesize (resolution), to the server (S105). In this operation, instead ofstoring all the image transmitted from the image input unit 100 andtransmitting thus stored image to the server, the portable communicationunit 300 transmits the image from the image input unit 100 by merelyrelaying, so that there is not required a memory capacity for thetransmission.

Then the sequence awaits the completion of the communication with theserver (S106) and is terminated when the communication is completed(S107).

The foregoing second embodiment can improve the convenience of the user,since the image input unit 100 executes selection on the plural addressinformation transferred from the portable communication unit 300 andutilizes thus selected address information as the address ofdestination.

More specifically, the image input unit 100, being provided with animage displaying function, can select the image, but is normally notprovided with the designation address information. Also since the imageinput unit 100 and the portable communication unit 300 are connected bythe wireless communication means, the freedom is increased with respectto the physical arrangement of the devices, but it is inconvenient tooperate both devices. Also, the portable communication unit 300 isnormally provided with an address book for transmitting and receivingcalls and e-mails. It is therefore rendered possible to improve theconvenience of the user by transferring the address information from theportable communication unit 300 to the image input unit 100 andselecting the address information therein.

Third Embodiment

In the foregoing first and second embodiments, the size of the image tobe communicated through the portable communication unit and the basestation is varied according to the type of the image input unit and thedestination.

In the third embodiment, the image size is varied according to the typeof the destination to be communicated directly with the image input unitby the Bluetooth communication.

FIG. 16 is a view showing an example of the configuration of an imagecommunication system 2000 constituting a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

An image communication apparatus IC16 (image input unit 16100, portablecommunication unit 16300), a base station 16500, an ISDN network 16600,an access point 16700, an internet network 16800 and a receivingterminal 16900 constituting the image communication system 2000 aresimilar to those constituting the image communication system 1000 shownin FIG. 1 and will not, therefore, be explained further.

A printer 16301 is capable of direct communication with the image inputunit 16100 by Bluetooth communication. A personal computer 16302 iscapable of direct communication with the image input unit 16100 byBluetooth communication.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing the process of the image input unit inthe image communication system 2000.

At first when the image input unit 16100 executes selection of the imageto be transferred, designation of the destination and instruction fortransfer, a main CPU 129 of the image input unit 16100 identifies thetype of the destination (S1701, S1702, S1703). In the third embodiment,the designation of the destination and the identification of the typeare achieved by transmitting an inquiry by the Bluetooth communicationutilizing the Bluetooth module 148, then displaying the respondingdevices on the display unit of the image input unit and makingdesignation among such devices. Also, the response to the inquiryincludes information indicating the type of the responding device(portable communication unit, printer or PC in the third embodiment).Thus, once the destination is designated, the type of the designateddevice can be automatically identified.

In a case where the destination of transfer is the portablecommunication unit, there is executed a process similar to that in thefirst and second embodiments. Also, in a case where the destination oftransfer is the printer 16301, a high definition image (image of highresolution) is transferred through the Bluetooth module 148 (S1706), andwhere the destination of transfer is the PC 16032, a medium definitionimage is transferred through the Bluetooth module 148 (S1707). If thedestination of transfer is a device not shown in FIG. 16 and the optimumimage size is not known, there is given a display for causing the userto select the image size, and, when the image size is selected by theuser (S1704), an image of the selected size is transferred (S1705).

As explained in the foregoing, the third embodiment allows transfer ofthe image with a size matching the destination, in a case of imagetransfer from the image input unit. If the size optimum for thedestination is not clear, the size can be selected by the user.

Fourth Embodiment

In the foregoing embodiment, the image input unit can communicate withthe portable communication unit, printer and PC, but, in the fourthembodiment, the image input unit can communicate only with the printer.

In this case, the Bluetooth modules of the image input unit and theprinter are so set as to be capable of communication one the other.Thus, when the image input unit transmits an inquiry and if the responsesignal thereto includes information indicating a specified printer (forexample information specifying the manufacture of the device orindicating the registration in advance in the image input unit), thereis formed a piconet of Bluetooth communication only with the printerhaving transmitted the aforementioned signal, thereby enabling imagetransmission.

In this manner the image input unit can communicate only with aspecified printer, regardless of other devices with the Bluetoothmodules, thereby avoiding the error of mistaking the destination of theimage. It is also possible to dispense with the toil of selecting thedestination of image transfer.

Furthermore, in a case where the image input unit can communicate onlywith the specified printer and if such printer is in the course ofprinting the image transferred from the image input unit or has startedthe printing process though the printing operation itself has not beenstarted, or in a case where the image input unit can communicate onlywith the specified printer which can also communicate with other devicesand if such printer is in the course of printing the image transferredfrom another device or has started the printing process though theprinting operation itself has not been started, the response signal tothe inquiry from the image input unit may include information indicatingthat the printing operation is in progress, whereby the user can behelped to avoid a misunderstanding that might result in an erroneousoperation even if the printed image is different from the imagetransmitted from the image input unit.

Also, in order to avoid such misunderstanding, it is also possiblesimply not to respond to the inquiry while the printer is executing theprinting operation or is in the course of the printing process.

The present invention can provide an image communication apparatus ofexcellent portability, capable of immediately transmitting the takenimage, and the operability of the image input device can be improvedsince the taken image can be immediately transmitted.

Moreover, an appropriate image can be transmitted to the destinationsince an image matching the destination can be transmitted in immediatetransmission of the taken image, and the taken image can be transmittedimmediately, since the communication can be made only with the specifiedpartner.

1. An image communication apparatus provided with an image input unitand a wireless communication unit, wherein: said image input unitincludes: image input means for entering an image; and first wirelesscommunication means for executing wireless communication of a firstmethod with said wireless communication unit; and said wirelesscommunication unit includes: second wireless communication means forexecuting wireless communication by said first method with said firstwireless communication means of said image input unit; and thirdwireless communication means for executing wireless communication by asecond method with a public wireless network, wherein said wirelesscommunication unit executes a relaying process on an image, communicatedby said second wireless communication means, by said third wirelesscommunication means.
 2. An image communication apparatus comprising:wireless communication means for executing wireless communication with awireless communication apparatus capable of wireless communication witha public wireless network; and control means for executing such controlthat an image which said wireless communication apparatus communicateswith said public wireless network in wireless manner is communicated bysaid wireless communication means with said wireless communicationapparatus.
 3. A wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2,further comprising: input means for entering an image; and memory meansfor memorizing the image entered by said input means, wherein saidcontrol means transmits a reduction image of the image memorized in saidmemory means to said wireless communication apparatus.
 4. A wirelesscommunication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmissionof the reduction image is executed in designating, in said wirelesscommunication apparatus, an address to which the image is to betransmitted.
 5. A wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3,wherein the image prior to reduction is transmitted to said wirelesscommunication apparatus when an instruction for transmitting the imageis received therefrom.
 6. A wireless communication apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein an image of a resolution matching the address of theimage is transmitted to said wireless communication apparatus when aninstruction for transmitting the image is received therefrom.
 7. Awireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the dataamount of the transmitted image is changed according to the address ofthe image when an instruction for transmitting the image is receivedfrom said wireless communication apparatus.
 8. A wireless communicationapparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: reception means forreceiving address information memorized by said wireless communicationapparatus; and selection means for selecting a desired address fromplural address information received by said reception means.
 9. An imagecommunication apparatus comprising: input means for entering an image;transmission means for transmitting the image entered by said inputmeans; and conversion means for converting the image, in transmittingthe image by said transmission means, according to the type of thedestination of transmission of the image.
 10. An image communicationapparatus according to claim 9, wherein said conversion means convertsthe size of the image.
 11. An image communication apparatus according toclaim 9, wherein said transmission means transmits a reduction image ofthe image to be transmitted according to the type of said destination oftransmission, and, in response to an instruction from the destination oftransmission, then transmits an image converted into another size fromthe image prior to the conversion into the reduction image.
 12. Awireless communication apparatus comprising: first wirelesscommunication means for executing wireless communication with an imageinput apparatus; second wireless communication means for executingwireless communication with a public wireless network; and control meansfor executing control in such a manner that the image communicated bysaid first wireless communication means is relayed by said secondwireless communication means.
 13. A wireless communication apparatusaccording to claim 12, further comprising: selection means for selectingthe address of the transmission, by said second wireless communicationmeans, of the image received by said first wireless communication means.14. A wireless communication apparatus according to claim 12, furthercomprising: selection means for selecting the address of thetransmission of the image prior to the reduction into the reductionimage received by said image input apparatus.
 15. A wirelesscommunication apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:memory means for memorizing address information in the communication bysaid second wireless communication means, wherein said control meanstransmits the address information memorized in said memory means to theimage input apparatus by means of said first wireless communicationmeans.
 16. A wireless communication apparatus according to claim 12,further comprising: judgment means for judging the communication statewith the image input apparatus by said first wireless communicationmeans wherein said control means varies the data amount communicated bysaid second wireless communication means according to the judgment bysaid judgment means.
 17. A wireless communication apparatus according toclaim 16, wherein said control means executes such control as not toexecute reception of the image, according to the judgment by saidjudgment means.
 18. A control method for an image communicationapparatus comprising: a wireless communication step of executingwireless communication with a wireless communication apparatus capableof wireless communication with a public wireless network; and a controlstep of executing such control that an image which the wirelesscommunication apparatus communicates with the public wireless network inwireless manner is communicated in said wireless communication step withthe wireless communication apparatus.
 19. A control method for an imagecommunication apparatus comprising: an input step of entering an image;a transmission step of transmitting the image entered in said inputstep; and a conversion step of converting the image according to thetype of the destination of the image in transmitting the image in saidtransmission step.
 20. A control method for a wireless communicationapparatus comprising: a first wireless communication step of executingwireless communication with an image input apparatus; a second wirelesscommunication step of executing wireless communication with a publicwireless network; and a control step of executing control in such amanner that the image communicated in said first wireless communicationstep is relayed in said second wireless communication step.